Providing best practices in Business + Work, helping clients and partners successfully deliver culturally and socially driven environments and exhibitions that create a purposeful and inspirational role in business and in society.
About James
James Hungerford has been contributing to the Business of the Arts and the Art of Business for over 30 years, with his most recent role as President and CEO for Xibitz Inc.
His diversity of business knowledge and experience, and his proprietary knowledge, united with his project experience and his diverse portfolio of work reflects his dedication to a higher purpose and an unwavering passion for developing, building and leading creative organizations and producing exhibits and environments that are culturally and socially driven.
James’s portfolio of work also demonstrates a synergistic collaboration with the architecture and design communities to engage and inspire people in museums, corporate settings, healthcare facilities, colleges and sports arenas.
James began his career doing technical work in television and live theater including Broadway shows and touring productions. Always entrepreneurial in spirit, he established his own startup, Adirondack Scenic JCH, Inc., by the time he was 25. The company provided a range of services for the entertainment industry including strategic planning, design, production, logistical and installation services for theater, national opera, corporate live events, theme park attractions, film, and television, as well as permanent exhibitions and environments for museums and corporations.
Seven years later he accepted a leadership position with Derse, Inc., applying his talents to the task of leading the expansion of the company’s new Las Vegas division. He remained at Derse for almost ten years, later leading a highly successful effort to boost and restructure its facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In 2003 James left Derse to fill the dual roles of President and CEO with Xibitz, Inc. His task was a formidable one – to transform Xibitz from a small, regionally focused firm into a successful multi-service, a multi-market company that was consistently profitable. Attracting and collaborating with clients, designer and partners nationally and internationally, he exceeded shareholders’ expectations on all levels.
Over the next twelve years, under James’ inspired leadership, Xibitz became an industry leader in national and global markets. James nurtured the growth of the company’s prestigious portfolio of work not only by repositioning its corporate mission and vision but also by setting higher standards for the development of new markets, strategic selling, recruiting and team building.
In January 2016 James completed his tenure as CEO and President to pursue a new interest.
“Over the past 10 years I have watched Xibitz grow into a highly successful firm and a powerful force in the world of museum exhibitions. This is in no small part due to the expertise and leadership of James Hungerford who has been the company’s CEO during this critical transition.”
“James vision and skills have made Xibitz, Inc. a profitable company in a highly competitive field and set high standards for everyone involved.”
“I have seen James impressive organizational skills, his endless energy, his deep knowledge of the marketplace, his commitment to collaboration and his unbending integrity.”
“James has an extraordinary talent for taking complex projects and developing a universal strategy that guides all of the partners, subcontractors and internal teams to success while keeping the client fully engaged, informed and confident.”
“James has a deep knowledge of the market place – what the trends are, who to partner with, and how to deal with the competition. Understanding how the market will respond means that James usually creates the right strategy that leads to a win and the eventual successful (and profitable) completion of a project.”
“James has a terrific combination of artistic and cultural sensibility and highly tuned business acumen.”
“James expertise dramatically impacted the trajectory and success of Xibitz, while successfully creating an environment that provided both personal prosperity for employees and profitable growth for Xibitz. “
“James was seminal in shaping a comprehensive vision for Xibitz that allowed for the development of a strategically structured organization and a team that is capable of successfully executing large and complex projects.”
James Hungerford 